This site may earn affiliate commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use.

Windows 10 is rolling towards its August 2 Anniversary Update and the company’s latest build, 14385, reflects that focus. Over the past few days, Microsoft has been pushing out bug fixes and some small feature updates like crazy — late last week we saw the release of 14383 and the company pushed 14385 over the weekend to the Fast Ring.

The 14385 build focuses on resolving common issues and bug fixes. Windows 10 should no longer spam messages that your copy of the OS will expire on 7/15/2016. Battery life should now improve on Surface devices, Spotify crashes were resolved, as were clipping issues with Google Chrome when full-screened and a reboot issue that occurred if a device was sharing a wireless connection in the 5GHz band. More issues with LastPass were resolved, and the mobile version of the OS saw a battery life pickup and PDF improvements.

All of these improvements are baked into 14385. If you haven’t been paying attention since Thursday, the 14383 build fixed its own suite of problems. Since last week, Redmond has cleaned up some issues with displaying checkboxes in high contrast mode, solved a Surface Book issue that prevented the screen from rotating properly after an external GPU was attached to the system, and solved some problems related to using multiple monitors with different DPIs. Microsoft also fixed problems related to Bluetooth mice tracking, and Narrator’s on-screen reading for people with visual disabilities, and it patched up a memory leak in Microsoft Edge when the LastPass extension was enabled.

Mobile battery performance, map performance in Microsoft Edge, music playback in Groove, incorrect DPI scaling in Continuum, and other various application setup and display bugs (on both platforms) also got squashed in this update. Windows Mobile devices will no longer auto-activate when a notification comes in (apparently this can lead to unwanted behavior if the device is already stored in a pocket).

Windows Ink is part of the upcoming Anniversary Update and features improved pen support

The company notes that there are two known issues with this update. First, an incorrect popup that began on 7/1 informing users that their PC’s evaluation copy of Windows expires soon (this is incorrect and will not happen). Second, an issue with the Windows Server 2016 Tech Preview V that prevents it from booting while Secure Boot is enabled. Some PDFs also can’t be opened in Edge on mobile (no word on when the company will fix this issue).

The upcoming Anniversary Update on August 2 is expected to be the last major update before next year’s Redstone 2. Originally scheduled for the tail end of this year, Redstone 2 was reportedly rescheduled in order to make room for a new wave of Microsoft hardware arriving at the same time. Exactly what those refreshes will look like is still unclear, and delaying into the spring of 2017 could mean Redstone 2 would target Cannonlake instead of Kaby Lake (KBL is the minor 14nm refresh expected to arrive this year, while Cannonlake is Intel’s 10nm node, expected in 2017). Then again, there aren’t dates on the Intel timeline either, so it’s anyone’s guess when all this plays out.

As of today, there’s slightly less than three weeks until the Windows 10 upgrade timer runs out. If you’re still planning to take advantage of the offer, there’s not much time left to do so. The August 2 Anniversary Update is expected to introduce new Linux command-line support, Xbox One support for Universal Applications, Windows Hello biometric authentication, additional Cortana features, and improved pen support via Windows Ink.

Tagged In

Tried using my mom’s laptop today which has Win10 on it. Terrible, just terrible. When I migrated to earlier versions of Windows before Win8 they were straightforward. Everything just happens to be where one would expect them. Beginning with 8, it’s practically like MS threw everything I know about computers out the window (pun intended). Heck, even instinctively pressing Esc doesn’t take me where I expect the UI to take me. It’s like driving a car that was designed to confuse a seasoned driver, with the location of common controls changed just for the sake of it being ‘better’. WTH.

There’s a saying that goes something like, “If you need to explain a UI, then there’s something wrong with it.” I’m typing this on an Android tablet and I never had any trouble picking Android up when I first used it many years ago. No manuals, nothing. And to think it’s very different from Windows 7, which I plan to use for as long as there’s no worthy Windows OS.

Anton

I’ve worked as an Engineer in a large company for over 20 years now. Enterprise tech companies (like Microsoft, Cisco, Juniper, etc.) change their operating systems all the time. My opinion is that they do this as technical support staff and employees need to keep up with whatever technology is thrown at them. This results in millions of people globally having to attend extremely expensive training courses. Think approximately 2,000 euros for each student for a 5 day course. 10 students in a 5 day class = a cool 20,000 just for one class. Make no mistake – income from training courses represents a huge chunk of a Enterprise tech companies profits. If they didn’t keep changing the tech, there would be no need for people to attend training.

Mavrik

I manually installed, patched, and fully setup Windows 10 my 1st time in an hour. I had my entire computer reimaged within 3 hours. No issues whatsoever, actually much less issues than normal because W10 actually installed all the required drivers on its own without required motherboard manual updates. If Windows 10 is confusing for you, it’s definitely user error.

Phakey Prophile

My windows 7 downloads the upgrade and then fails install EVERY TIME. Not a thing I can do about it. Even downloaded the manual force upgrade and it fails. I’ve cleared all the windows update settings and nothing. So I wouldn’t be so blanket statement arrogant about your own personal experience being the world’s.

ronch

If you read my post and understood it properly, you’d see that I never said anything about it not working properly. I’m saying it’s not intuitive to use. And it’s not like I’ve never switched OSes my whole life. And unless you live in a cave, you’d know that many people hated Windows 8 when it first came out because MS changed so many things and it simply isn’t very intuitive, certainly not for folks who have been on Windows for so long. And Win10 is just Win8 evolved. Same OS with lots of tweaks here and there. Internally, MS puts Win8 and Win10 in the same basket.

So why did MS create an OS that was practically designed to confuse existing users of their products? Shouldn’t a new OS feel familiar to long time users instead of confusing them? Shouldn’t it be as easy or easier to use and provide a great user experience from the beginning? Isn’t that what designers are supposed to do and achieve? How would you like to buy a car that has the gas pedal on the left and the brakes on the right? And everything else relocated? Wouldn’t that be infuriating? If you crashed the car, would you be quick to say it’s user error? Wouldn’t the car maker deserve to draw flack as well, more than the driver?

Before you try to sound smart and call it user error, try some reading comprehension first, buddy.

Dan

I think we can all agree Windows 8 was aweful.

Windows 10 really isn’t. It can be configured different ways. On a tablet it may run in tablet mode, which is very much like Windows 8. On a desktop, it runs a lot like Windows 7, with the start bar and jump lists, and all that. Maybe you had a bad experience. I’m enjoying Windows 10 quite a lot.

Still no Aero Glass, 3D look, skinnable GUI like in Windows 7? Non-forced updates? End of the hideous and unusable control panel?

No thanks, but I’m plenty happy with Windows 7. I cannot wait for the ‘free’ upgrade to expire so that I can turn Windows Update back on again…

Plästik

I’ve always had windows update on “critical only”. So no recommended updates. And windows 7 has not bothered me with “upgrade to windows 10” garbage, though I wonder will they try to slip one as “critical update” when the “offer” to “upgrade” is about to end.

Ascaris

They could make a pile of money if they took the kernel from 10, put the GUI from Windows 7 on top of it (including 7-style updating and DX12, but NOT including anything related to “apps”) and sold it as Windows 7 SE, complete with 10 more years of updates. The important bits would be common between 7 SE and 10, so the cost savings of only having one Windows would still mostly apply (the 7 UI is done, and people who would buy 7 SE don’t want new UI features, so the cost to maintain it as-is will be minimal). People would pay for that rather than take 10 for free… but it would only happen if MS can get over this idea that cramming phone apps into a desktop OS will spur development of more phone apps and sell Windows phones.

Much the tech industry has written off the future of Windows phones, and at some point MS ought to recognize that holding on to 90% of a shrinking (but not dying) desktop market is better than throwing that away in a futile hail-Mary attempt that will leave them with 100% of nothing. They’ve got to dance with the one that brought them… it’s traditional PC users that made MS into the giant it is, and while there are fewer of us than there used to be, we’re not going away.

I’ve already started the migration to Linux. I have until 2020 until the lovely Windows 7 is no longer updated, so I can take my time. It’s doubtful I will give Linux up completely now that I’ve started, but it’s still up in the air whether I’ll keep using both in a dual-boot setup or one day stop using Windows completely. I’ve already found that the one game I play regularly works quite well in WINE, and everything else I do has a Linux equivalent, even though I have not learned how to make it all happen yet.

Right now, I am assuming that 10 will remain “the last version of Windows ever” and that it will continue in the same direction in which it has been going for the last year, so I am preparing for an eventual complete switch to Linux. Three and a half years is a long time, and Linux is headed in a good direction; it should
be much better than it is now by then. Windows 10 is not looking promising, by contrast. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see; either way, I will be prepared.

Whether Windows 10 will be ‘the last version of Windows, ever’ depends solely on the marketshare it manages to get. If by 2018 Windows 7 still has a 25+% share, you can bet your money that it’d make a lot of MSFT management types very nervous.

That said, I’d buy Windows 7 SE in a heartbeat, assuming it left out the forced updates and keyloggers.

Brian Steele

Wow, every time a Windows 10 article is posted, the anti-10 anklebiters emerge from the woodwork. Here’s a hint guys – if you don’t like it, don’t use it. See? Simple as that. After awhile the whining about Aero (good riddance) and the like starts to get really boring.

I love W10 BTW, and I’ve got it on all my systems now. Too many things to love about it, including support for Hyper-V in the Pro version, the action center (providing quick access to features like “Connect” and “Project”, as well as notifications from e-mail, etc., and then there’s the ability to log on using my Microsoft account. Alas, my HP Mini 5102 only has 1GB, so it looks like the 2GB recommendation for the Anniv. Edition puts that update out of its reach.

Marc GP

Indeed, it should be as simple as that : don’t like it, don’t use it.

Problem is that Microsoft is tricking and bullying hundreds of thousands of users (probably saying millions would be much more accurate) to use what they don’t like and don’t want to use.

Hel Thanatos

Yeah… I would say the anti-win10 people actually have a point in these comment sections because Microsoft continually tries to force something down their throats they don’t like.
I’m fine with Win10, I still like Win7 better, though.
I actually have Win7 and 10 dual booted, but I have gotten no upgrade notificatins… And none on my laptop… I think they’re scared to ask me or something.

gremlin22

While you are right about “don’t use it” and the PC I bought last year runs Linux Mint after being loyal Windows user from the age of DOS I still feel that I am allowed to express my feeling of betrayal by Microsoft.
Can’t figure out why a company with 90+% desktop market share will choose to alienate SO many of its users.

Will Ovtuth

Wow, everytime a windows 10 article is posted, the pro-10 paid shills come out in droves to make their paycheck. Heres a hint guys, if you like it just use it and stop trying to torture the rest of us with it. See how that BS post of yours works? Not too cool when assinine comments are aimed back at ya, huh?!? Have a nice day.

Brian Steele

LOL -I wish I WAS being paid to promote an OS that I like to use! It would make trolling the annoying W10 anklebiters even more rewarding :)

Have they fixed ‘Cast to Device’? I find that after a video has finished playing, I can’t cast another without first stopping some services. Worst case is that a reboot is required. Quite annoying as it worked perfectly in Windows 8.1

RCW

Installing this new build right now. Just like checking out new stuff… maybe learn something new. Maybe I’ll find a new feature that I can make use of.
But never mind me… return to your whining.

Anton

I, for one, am not whining – just asking genuine questions. As you’re installing the latest build, can you post on this forum whether they have fixed Cast to Device and introduced a Mute Tab option to Edge?

Zergling

Nice!

Anton

Have they introduced a “Mute Tab” option for Edge?

Gary

I use the surface pro 4. Other than the first few days where stock windows 10 was a complete pain in the arse where updates are required or else the tablet is completely unusable, there hasn’t been too much hiccup. Of course there were still silly issues like the tablet runs hot and drains battery dead during sleep mode etc for some time, but they’ve since been fixed after some patches. I am by no means a power user though, but so far Windows 10 hasn’t been too bad. I don’t use the Window store at all because that’s complete rubbish and lacking. I can see why Windows is really starting to lose it’s appeal to many customers who aren’t gamers or enterprise though.

Cle_Clowns_fan

Aug 15th… just updated my phone – lumia 640 – to the latest w10 version and now it locks up several times a day. Have to pull the stinkin’ battery b/c I can’t even shut it down. Never had this problem before. Thanks Windows!!!! grrrr

This site may earn affiliate commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use.

ExtremeTech Newsletter

Subscribe Today to get the latest ExtremeTech news delivered right to your inbox.

Email

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our
Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time.